Fringing the azure waters of the Gulf of Aqaba, Epicon is Saudi Arabia’s latest offering from its NEOM project. A pinnacle of modern luxury and an engineering marvel, it is the retreat of the future that has everything from luxury hotels to beach villas, spas, and wellness centres.

Conceptualised by Studio 10Design, Epicon comprises two skyscrapers and a resort and is envisioned to become a jewel of the upcoming desert city of NEOM.

Here’s a glimpse inside Epicon, the new project in Saudi Arabia’s NEOM

Epicon in numbers

Epicon is a new coastal hotel and resort concept, a complex of two jagged towers measuring 225 m and 275 m high, imagined to mimic a glistening mirage on the horizon. Within these towers, guests can ascend to the lounges and premium restaurants. Those seeking elevated experiences can go even higher to enjoy stays at suites and residences. Epicon offers 55 such ultra-luxury suites and residences.

Located at a short distance from the towers is the Epicon Resort. A harmonious blend of architectural ingenuity and innovation, it comprises 120 luxury resort rooms and 45 residential beach villas. Here, a beach club, indoor and outdoor spa treatments, wellness pools, gourmet restaurants, stunning lounges and gyms await you.

A helipad, jetty and a range of water sports shall also be available to elevate your stay and make it an unforgettable experience.

“Designed as a gateway to the future, Epicon provides an opportunity to escape the stresses of the everyday,” describes a NEOM press release.

“A highly attractive visitor destination and an optimum place to live and thrive, Epicon’s guests and residents can expect a truly immersive and life-affirming experience,” it adds.

Other projects in NEOM

This avant-garde concept is the sixth region inside NEOM. It comes shortly after the announcement of Leyja, “NEOM’s sustainable tourism destination set within a magnificent natural valley”, stated the press release.

Other regions include The Line, Sindalah, Trogena and Oxagon.

(Hero and feature image credit: NEOM/ @discoveringneom/ Instagram)

Related: Saudi Arabia’s Neom Trojena Will Let You Ski Outdoors All Year Round

A classic Dubai itinerary is action-packed, thrilling and full of fun. In the midst of all the excitement and indulgence, if you need a moment of calm or a few hours of relaxation and pampering, seek out one of the many luxurious spas that are world-class like everything else in this maximum city.

Expect tranquil settings, top-notch pampering by nimble-fingered experts and a host of distinctive treatments that elevate the experience and push the boundaries of wellness.

From a unique percussion therapy massage that draws on the healing power of sound, a heady Frankincense facial that’s an ode to the region’s deep connection with the gum-like substance, to traditional Ayurvedic and Swedish treatments, here’s our pick of the best out there to make it easier for you to slide into a state of precious calm.

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Luxury spas in Dubai to visit for the best massage

Born out of the vast desert, constantly turning the impossible into possible and where happiness trumps all else, Dubai beckons and entices like few other places on Earth. The ever buzzing city takes its hotels very seriously so expect the best and finest here. Every big hotel chain has an outpost in Dubai and then there are homegrown hotels that will literally blow your mind.

From bedding down to glittering views of the city’s ever-changing skyline, waking up to birdsong to claiming your own piece of paradise on an island floating on the Arabian Sea, the choices are endless and truly mind-boggling. Here’s an overview of the best out there to help you make an informed choice.

A holiday destination that draws visitors all year round, the best period to visit is from November to April when daytime temperatures are moderate and nights cool. The winter months of December to February are a delight with sublimely beautiful nights.

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Here are the 10 best hotels in Dubai to experience the Middle-Eastern hospitality

What is it like to visit one of the world’s top new resorts with its architect who also happens to be seeing it for the first time? T+L SEA accompanied Blink Design Group founder Clint Nagata on an exclusive trip to Regent Phu Quoc, in Vietnam. We talked about his new projects from Japan to Saudi Arabi, simplification, the sound of water, and his friendship with fellow starchitect Bill Bensley.  

LONG BEFORE INTERIOR DESIGNER of the Year Clint Nagata received the accolade at the Design Excellence Awards in Singapore this month, Blink Design Group, the architecture and design firm he founded and for which he acts as creative partner, has been winning prizes and praise around the world. Among the recent additions to Blink’s portfolio, you may have heard of the W Mina Seyahi in Dubai, Fullerton Hotel Ocean Park in Hong Kong, the JW Marriott Khao Lak in Thailand, and Roku Kyoto in Japan. Also hotly anticipated in Kyoto is a new Six Senses, and they’re designing a Banyan Tree in Dongguan, China, and the NEOM Morgans Original in Saudi Arabia. 

Travel+Leisure Southeast Asia was invited to spend three days with Nagata in Vietnam on his first trip to see one of his recently completed properties, Regent Phu Quoc. The pandemic meant that Nagata had to manage this (and many other) projects remotely. Despite having a packed schedule of meetings and site inspections, the designer and architect makes time to show us around and chat about his work. 

As his expert eyes pick out gradations in finishes and details in the grain of the flooring that a layman would never notice, Nagata shares a key factor that determines how he judges a hotel, whether crafted by his team or someone else—”I think guest rooms need to have a certain sex appeal”—but dodges a question about defining a “Blink style.” Rather, he prefers to highlight what he considers their strength: the team’s ability to tune into the wishes of the owner, and translate that into a guest experience before any customers even set eyes on a finished hotel.  

He had met BIM Group chairman Doan Quoc Viet on this very spot. Though they didn’t share a spoken language, they found other ways to communicate. “He drew a diagram of the water,” recalls Nagata, “and rooms that look at the bodies of water or the sea.” 

Nagata translated that into pools of water throughout Regent Phu Quoc, and not just for visual effect. “The sound of water is very important,” Nagata says. At the same time, the Vietnamese-influenced architecture creates sightlines that lead to the sea. “To make the architecture go away was our challenge,” he says, and they succeeded. On this property, you see walls but not roofs in the landscape. 

Many surfaces are covered in intricate Vietnamese eggshell lacquer and the plants are indigenous. Ideas attuned to the surroundings also came from further afield. Rattan-like abaca weaving from Java fits right in with the tropical setting and contemporary Czech glassmaker Lasvit was brought on to create a marine-inspired mural sculpture.  

“I don’t feel that I impose my vision,” he says. “Like for a suit, I’m the tailor. Does the customer want this cut or that cut? That’s how I’ve always approached design. I find that part of my job very satisfying.” 

And what if you ask the tailor to reconceptualize a suit someone else originally made you? In the expansion and refit of JW Marriott in Khao Lak, the challenge was breathing new life into a Thai hotel that had been built 15 years ago with red teak floors, a lobby with a Thai roof, and older furniture. “We had to keep a lot of that, focusing on elements that make sense, looking at things that would elevate the room.” Now, the vibe is calmer and more contemporary, thanks in part to the addition of pieces designed by celebrated Thai textile artist Ploenchan ‘Mook’ Vinyaratn in the guest rooms.  

Nagata calls the process “editing”: de-coloring… creating a softer palette that works better together, like painting stained wood white… reducing… simplifying. 

Finally, I ask if his style could be defined as uncluttered clean lines, and he pauses before conceding, “that’s a fair assessment.”   

“That’s one thing that’s Japanese about me,” laughs Nagata, who grew up in Hawaii in a place so quiet it didn’t have a traffic light. 

Even with such synergies of mindset, in Japan, like anywhere, a new project can present its own challenges. Six Senses Kyoto, due to open in 2024, has the luxury wellness brand at its core, but in the ancient capital will exist in an urban setting on a long, narrow slice of land—a “tough” juxtaposition, he says. “This owner is a history buff,” Nagata adds, “and there is a temple across the street built in the Heian period, so all of the design elements are inspired by that.” 

When he opened Blink in Bangkok 17 years ago, the small-town boy was drawn by the chaos of the big city. He also met fellow American-born, Bangkok-based hotel designer Bill Bensley, whom he credits with pointing out all the resources available there. “He made me realize how creative Thais were as designers,” he said. “I like how he works with artisans.” 

That however is about where their similarities end. “Design-wise we sit at opposite ends of the spectrum—we hardly ever compete against each other,” Nagata says about the also-prolific Bensley, who is known for his bigger-than-life, more-is-more sensibility. “I respect his work a lot.” 

Don’t be surprised if a string of your new favorite hotels continue to have his name attached. The praise for Nagata keeps pouring in, such as the Interior Designer of the Year Award that he picked up in Singapore earlier in March. “The award wasn’t necessarily for me, it was for us as a team,” he modestly tells me. “I just happen to have some silly ideas sometimes.” 

Ed. Note: Nagata is one of the most respected in his field, but we’ve also found his winning combo of innovation and collaboration in some of the coolest up-and-coming personalities in hospitality and design around Asia-Pacific. Can’t wait to introduce them to you in our new series, Generation Create, out next week! —Jeninne

This new retreat in Qatar is guided by Traditional Arab and Islamic Medicine. Never heard of it? We visited Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som to find out all about this lesser-known but broadly practiced form of holistic health.

ON A WINDSWEPT PENINSULA 45 minutes from Doha, a tip of Qatar so northernmost that if you squinted you might think you could make out Bahrain in the distant sea, sits a first-in-its-country destination with revolutionary aspirations. Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som is the only resort that we know of specializing in Traditional Arabic and Islamic Medicine (TAIM), in the first foreign foray by Chiva-Som, the storied health resort that pioneered its brand of detoxifying luxury wellness beachfront in Thailand 27 years ago. Dreamed up by Her Royal Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, one of Zulal’s main goals is to impart health wisdom and practices to the entire family: start kids young so wellness becomes lifestyle; teach adults an integrative path they can take home. 

The wellness center is anchored on key pillars – spa, physiotherapy, fitness, holistic health, and aesthetics  – that each have a wing around a pretty garden that includes local herbs used for some treatments, and in the sugar-, gluten- and dairy-free cuisine. The women’s spa (they’re divided by gender) is truly a sight to behold, centered as it is by a massive aquatherapy circuit, with a salmon-pink salt room, and a snow room that generates real powder, to go along with the steam room, the sauna and the two wildlife-rainforest-jungle showers (how I like to refer to the multi-sensory lights, natural noises and water from all sides cubicles that seem to be all the rage in high-end spas these days). Outside there’s a lap pool where I saw guests taking water aerobics and other classes. 

When you’re ready for enlightenment, track down Dr. Purnima Siddhanta, the TAIM specialist whose job really is to set the tone for the whole resort as its holistic health manager. A medical doctor, an Ayurvedic doctor, and an herbalist, she told me that “TAIM is as old as Arab culture,” an amalgam of prophetic medicine (meaning the lifestyle practices of the prophet Mohammed), Islamic religious beliefs, Hippocrates’s humoral theory, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda. “TAIM works on mind and body, diet, spiritual practices and applied sciences,” she said. 

Like those ancient practices from which it derives, TAIM says you should find wellness through food first (making nutrition another integral pillar at Zulal), then medicinal herbs, then treatments such as applied therapies including hammam and cupping, and only when all else fails should a person turn to surgery. “Human will is immense. You should not be surprised by the healing power of the body,” Siddhanta said.      

One wing of the resort is adults-only, and made up of semi-detached suites and villas, all with private pools and access to a large, pretty, man-made lagoon that’s filled with filtered sea water, so that on warm days you can get the benefits of swimming in salt water without having to trek half a kilometer out from the shoreline, which is where at the lowest of tides the ocean finally begins to reach your knees. There are actually some cool benefits to this topographical anomaly. 

It creates a wide-open expanse for grounding, also known as earthing, the simple act of walking barefoot outside to absorb, advocates believe, electrical charges from the earth that can improve immunity, sleep and mood, and decrease inflammation, cardiovascular disease, muscle damage, and pain. The idea is that contact with the Earth’s surface both exposes us to electrons, created by its negative charge, that act as antioxidants in our bodies, and helps maintain our circadian rhythms. Grounding provides both a physical and spiritual sense of being of a place – particularly here at Zulal, where a wide-ranging amble on a beautiful sunny day across the squishy sand brought me to an old fishing system left by those who held this place long ago. Hand-built rock walls now less than knee-high were shaped into a large funnel for fish, who would swim closer to shore at high tide and get trapped when the water receded, ready for the plucking.

Alone, in the middle of the not-quite-ocean, a vast empty sea- and skyline in panorama before me, I pondered this simple, generations-old engineering ingenuity and it made me feel buoyant. I clambered over a wall, next to which grew a series of shrubs that presumably would be submerged when the tide returned, and headed further out where my ankles finally got wet. By the time the ocean reached my thighs, the water was robin’s egg blue, refreshing and kinetic, as the sun shone through the light wind whipping around me. Turning to face the shore, I had the odd sensation of seeing a mirage. Air, ocean, sand and land combined to a shimmery haze in the distance. That’s where I was supposed to long to return, yet I wanted to keep moving out to sea. How far could I actually get into the Gulf before it consumed me?

Is this what five days of detox – from both alcohol and the internet – on unfamiliar terrain does to your brain? Zulal means ‘pure water’ and I was certainly was experiencing a cleansing ritual here. I reluctantly headed back through the shallows to the resort, as I had about 100 appointments that day and didn’t have more time for frolicking.

OK, not really 100, but the Zulal retreats are action-packed, especially if in between your prescribed massages and energy healing and superstretches, you sign up for the complimentary fitness classes (pilates on a balance beam – I dare you), book private speciality sessions (electrocution sweat-therapy in an EMS suit is a hardcore yet surprisingly fun way to double your calorie-burning during HIIT) and take advantage of the aquatherapy circuits, the gorgeous double-height House of Wisdom with books curated by the Qatar National Library, and the tea house with sommelier ready to brew to your mood. 

Over in the Zulal family section of the resort, called Discovery, wellness takes less a therapeutic approach and is more like camp for the whole family – but based on circadian rhythms, and stimulating children’s cognitive, physical, social, emotional and language growth. Family therapist Joelle Alkoury, who previously worked with refugees and in women’s protection and empowerment, and is now running the Zulal family programming, told me, “the concept of bonding appealed to me. Parents and children coming together.”

Mornings are for personal time – wellness retreats for the parents, developmentally appropriate activities for the kids that tend to be more physical as adrenaline levels are highest earlier in the day. “We try to book families meditations or beach walks at sunset to calm them down,” Alkoury said. Then it’s time to share a meal and get to bed: “serotonin levels drop by 11 p.m., so you want to be in bed by 9 to get that deep sleep,” Alkoury said. Family spa offerings include reiki massage for infants that is meant to help with stranger danger. Screen time and nannies are discouraged.

The entirety of Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som is set up to align with what Siddhanta said are the six essential factors of TAIM: Food and drink should be specifically for you (I am omnivorous, but the Zulal me craved their tasty and creative vegan room service menu); evacuation (it’s a gentle euphemism); physical movement and repose (seek balance even in training); mental movement and repose (“One day you should not be thinking,” Siddhanta said, to which I replied, “Yes, please! And how?”); sleep and wakefulness; and the air should be clean. 

That is most certainly is at Zulal, whether offshore in the melty sands or while the crisp wind whips across the inland saltwater lakes. Coming from congested Bangkok, I found the air quality alone restorative. But this project is a gateway to a new method of looking at health based on several very, very old practices. It’s cerebral and effective – well, if you stick with the program. “Wellness is only obtained if you practice it,” Siddhanta said. “It is your responsibility.”

zulal.com; rates starts from QR4,075 single-occupancy per night in low season (May through September) and QR4,500 high season (January through April), but check with the resort for costs of the various retreats, rooms and family options.

The easiest way to get to Zulal is to fly Qatar Airways, which offers direct flights to Doha from the major Southeast Asian cities. Now that they’ve reintroduced planes with the Q Suites on many of these routes, flying Business Class is more appealing than ever because who doesn’t want a door of their own on an airplane?! Your social distancing concerns and overall desire for a private cocoon are taken care of in one spacious, storage-filled, lay-flat seat.

T+L Tip: Book the Al Maha Platinum service for your arrival at Hamad International Airport. It includes a friendly staff to greet you at the aerobridge and escort you to the serene, luxe lounge, where there are snacks and refreshments to enjoy while a porter waits with the regular people to pick up your luggage from the carousel. Only once your bags are retrieved are you ushered through a no-wait, private immigration desk, whisked through customs and brought to your ground transfer easy-peasy. Highly recommend.

All Images Credit: Courtesy of Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som.

With 40 years of experience in its kitty, Sheraton Grand Doha guarantees a magical wedding doused in luxury and perfection. By Bayar Jain

An iconic landmark that opened its doors in 1982, Sheraton Grand Doha is no stranger to weddings. Ever since its opening 40 years ago, the luxury wedding venue has seen innumerable nuptials in its abode — and it continues to attract couples looking to tie the knot even today.

Presenting Sheraton Grand Doha, The True Address For Luxury Weddings

Location

Sheraton Grand Doha is located just 25 minutes away from Hamad International Airport, making it an easy option for guests from all around the world to fly down and join in for the celebrations. What’s more—the hotel also offers private car, limousine, or van service to make this commute easier.

Venues aplenty

Whether it’s an intimate celebration or a grandiose gala, Sheraton Grand Doha has played host to weddings of all sizes. The hotel offers 25 customisable convention spaces, totalling to 10,300 square metres of meeting space. While the largest venue, Al Dafna, can host up to 3,000 guests; the private Majlis realigns the focus on privacy and small gatherings. For an outdoor celebration, choose from either of the three spaces that come paired with surreal water features, and views of the Arabian Gulf and Corniche.

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Team of wedding planners

When celebrating in Sheraton Grand Doha, every detail of these special moments comes to life with a dedicated team of wedding planners. The loving and creatively orchestrated team assures pure perfection every step of the way, while their intuitive services promise a seamless wedding. Pair this with a team of specialists and outside catering services, and a memorable celebration is guaranteed!

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For bookings and inquiries, please call +974 6628 3265 or email raghad.almasri@sheraton.com

All image credit: Sheraton Grand Doha

Related: This Hotel Has Become Bangkok’s Sleekest Dining and Drinking Hub

Centara Mirage’s three themed resorts in Thailand, Dubai and Vietnam are delivering unforgettable fun for the entire family.

Bangkok-based hotel giant Centara has something up its sleeve to suit everyone – and its stunning family-focused Centara Mirage themed resorts in Thailand’s coastal Pattaya, Dubai’s beach haven, and Vietnam’s beach resort town of Mui Ne, are a must on your 2023 holiday wish list. Mirage perfectly encapsulates Centara’s themed family resort concept, where lifetime memories are forged for both parents and kids. 

Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya

If there’s adrenaline running through your children’s veins, the Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya is the place to be. In August, it elevated the fun factor with the opening of The Lost World Adventure Land.  

Complementing the jungle waterpark, the latest addition to Thailand’s first truly themed hotel guarantees to keep the kids – and adults – entertained. Highlights include soaring through the air on the SkyRider aerial course and facing your fears on the SkyTrail, two exhilarating obstacle courses in the sky. 

The fun extends further to a sprawling three-level playground where kids can spend hours shooting down slides, bouncing on trampolines, enjoying raft games and, in line with the Lost World theme, play Indiana Jones excavating dinosaur bones in the sand pit. 

There’s educational experiences galore to be found in the indoor zone. Children can unleash their creativity in the arts and crafts area or become junior chefs for the day at the cooking studio. Under the supervision of the resort’s chef team, they can pick up the baking basics and get arty decorating the fruits of their labor. 

www.centarahotelsresorts.com/centaragrand/cmbr

Centara Mirage Beach Resort Dubai

Over in the UAE, children can spend their days embarking on mythical Thai- and Arabian-inspired adventures at Centara Mirage Beach Resort Dubai – the first resort of its kind in the region. Its prime location on the Dubai Islands’ waterfront, overlooking the Arabian Gulf, make this 607-room resort perfect for the whole family.

If you’re parents to water babies, then days of family fun await at the resort’s action-packed water park. Spend hours bobbing along the lazy river, make a splash in the kids’ play area, zoom down water slides, jump off cliff platforms and navigate a rope climbing course. And, of course, there’s a huge swimming pool to take a calmer dip away from the water thrilling.

Kids can also be kept entertained at three age-specific kids’ clubs, an outdoor playground and Candy Spa, a colorful, candy-themed wellness zone. All of these elements make Centara Mirage Beach Resort Dubai the ideal place for a family getaway in Dubai.

www.centarahotelsresorts.com/centara/cdd

Centara Mirage Resort Mui Ne

An adventure playground awaits at Centara Mirage Resort Mui Ne. The integrated themed resort is located in the beach resort town of Mui Ne Vietnam, famed for its alluring white sandy beaches, water sports, and striking white and red sand dunes. 

The fully-integrated resort boasts 984 rooms and pool villas, all delightfully designed under a Spanish-Mediterranean theme. The sprawling resort is packed full of fun activities, with the Explorer’s Playground featuring slides, giant climbing frames, and other entertaining feats that will keep the kids busy all day. If they’re not there, then parents will find their children making a splash over at the water playground. Heaps of laughs are to be had enjoying the lazy river, splash pad, and water play area with slides.

Other family-friendly facilities include a 30-meter observation tower that’s great for sunset and sunrise, a thrilling aerial obstacle course, a bowling alley, Kids’ Clubs, indoor karaoke rooms, and an entertainment center for younger explorers.

www.centarahotelsresorts.com/centara/cmv

Regardless of the destination, Centara Mirage promises to deliver endless unforgettable family fun that will tire the kids out for a sound night’s sleep. Save up to 40 percent with Centara – The Place to Be offer when log-in to CentaraThe 1 member before booking. Not a member yet?  Click Here to sign up for free.

Article sponsored by Centara Hotels & Resorts.
All Images Credit: Courtesy of Centara Hotels & Resorts.

AS 2022 ENTERS ITS FINAL MONTHS and the coldest part of the year appears on the horizon, it’s natural to begin to pine for the warmth of summer and start thinking about your next vacation. But enough thinking — now is the perfect time to take a trip with the family and end the year with a bang!

An ideal destination for those on a quest for winter sun — and at any other time of year for that matter — is the Middle Eastern metropolis of Dubai. And if you’re hitting Dubai, you can’t do much better than checking into Sofitel Dubai The Palm.

Perched on the East Crescent of Palm Jumeirah, the iconic string of artificial islands in the Persian Gulf, the fabulously luxe property has found many ways to stand out. Guests rave about its high-end, elegant, and indulgent experiences and it is easy to see why.

Stay Luxe

Set on a magnificent estate dotted with palm trees and plant-lined walkways lapped gently by the waves of the Arabian Gulf, Sofitel Dubai The Palm offers guests a choice of 546 rooms. 

These include four private beach villas, 182 luxury serviced apartments, and 360 Polynesian-themed rooms and suites. These incredible spaces come with expansive balconies and dramatic views of the ocean and Palm Jumeirah. 

The rooms invoke the same Polynesia vibes as the rest of the property. Completed by sleek and chic dark-wood fittings and furniture, each offering is set off by artful brushes of color in the designer furnishings and tasteful lighting. The rooms feature all the little extras we love, such as the Bose Wave audio system and travertine tiled bathrooms stocked with L’Occitane products to elevate your bathing time.

The pièce de résistance, however, is the balconies. Each is fully furnished and boasts dramatic panoramas of the ocean. Guests will love spending quality time with friends and family in these comfortable and oh-so-cool social areas. But if you want to take your indulgence that little bit further, book a villa which, with their roof terraces and private pools — are a splurge you won’t regret. 

Live the French way

Once settled in, guests will instantly find themselves at home in the sun-drenched tropical escape, where they can top up their tan next to a convivial selection of six swimming pools or take it beachside to the hotel’s sprawling 1,640-square foot private beach. 

A special treat is in store for guests who enter the Sofitel SPA with L’Occitane. Along with its choice of exploring six indoor and outdoor swimming pools, indoor hydrotherapy pools, saunas, and even a Turkish Bath, the spa offers a comprehensive range of treatments and massages. An ideal pampering spot to rejuvenate and relax after working up a sweat in the gym or exchanging volleys on the resort’s tennis courts.

When it comes to dining, you are in very good hands at Sofitel Dubai The Palm. Famous for the spirit of Gallic culture that runs through all its properties, Sofitel’s commitment to bringing the best of French hospitality to the world means guests can choose from 11 restaurants, bars, and lounges. The outlets offer tantalizing menus representing cuisines from Asia, Europe, the Americas, and, naturally, the local Gulf region, set against stunning sand beach backdrops.

www.sofitel-dubai-thepalm.com/offers/winter-vacations-in-dubai

The winter months are a wonderful time to visit Dubai and soak up the indulgent lifestyle at Sofitel Dubai The Palm with your loved ones. And by signing up to ALL – Accor Live Limitless, you can save 25% on the resort’s best available rates and embark on winter you and your family will never forget.

All photos courtesy of Sofitel Dubai The Palm.

W Hotels and Resorts are getting their groove back, and it’s obvious as soon as you check-in to their smashing new adults-only Dubai tower.

IT’S HARD FOR A NEW HOTEL to stand out in Dubai—after all, there are 784 options here, many of which fall into the five-star category. So when the W Dubai Mina Seyahi recently opened in a newly built 31-story tower designed to look like a Saharan viper (use your imagination…), I checked in to see if it could compete with the many cool new upstarts in my home city.

Even before you step inside the building, the new W has one big thing going for it. It sits in a sweet spot between Dubai Marina, the Palm Jumeirah and the new Dubai Harbor, part of much-loved Mina Seyahi, a 900-meter stretch of beach, palm-filled gardens, 19 restaurants and two more hotels—The Westin and Le Méridien—that’s a long-time favorite of visitors and locals alike. 

The magic of the W is that it manages to feel simultaneously connected to—yet separate from—all of it. When I’d had enough of squealing down waterslides and sipping drinks at one of the swim-up bars, it was just a short walk on a garden path back to my child-free, adults-only oasis. Yes, this W only welcomes guests aged 16 and over.

But it’s not all about what’s outside. Head indoors, and the first thing you notice are the dramatic interiors by BLINK Design Group, the studio behind The Fullerton Ocean Park in Hong Kong and Roku Kyoto, among others. There are Arabian inspirations, both fictional and factual, throughout the property. The scaly patterns on the check-in desks are a nod to snake charmers, and my welcome drink was served out of an Aladdin’s lamp. Contemporary touches are in evidence, too, such as the magic carpets climbing the walls that morph into geometric crystals as they reach the ceiling, and a dramatic wall of white balls representing prayer beads, each adorned with Arabic script representing a tale from One Thousand and One Nights.

The subtle Arabian influence continues in the surprisingly calming rooms. Behind the extraordinarily comfy beds, white leather headboards mimic the curves and folds of the sails of dhows, and the white walls are covered in a paper-like texture, designed to inspire guests to “pen their own tales”—although probably best you don’t start scribbling on them. Golden treasure chests double as bedside tables, and dangling glass lanterns reminiscent of old fishing floats flank one side of the bed; on the other is a lamp covered in a beaded veil. It all feels very grown-up, a departure from some other Ws that feel a little overly contrived and futuristic.

All 318 accommodations are filled with light that pours in through floor-to-ceiling windows and sliding doors that lead out onto big balconies. My room faced west, giving me jaw-dropping sunset views in the evening, and, in the morning, scenes of skydiving planes taking off from the nearby runway, followed a few minutes later by parachutes hurtling towards the ground at a heart-stopping speed. On the other side of the building, the rooms look out onto the long stretch of Jumeirah beach, the trunk of the Palm, and the iconic sail-shaped Burj Al Arab in the distance. 

Those views continue in the Bar-B Spa on the 30th floor, where socializing is encouraged and you can order a bellini with your mani-pedi. This is the kind of Spa where I wanted to keep my eyes open during the treatment to take in the rich textures and colors, touches of gold, and tropical patterns on the walls. Treatments are excellent, therapists really know what they’re doing, and the product lines are as luxe as you’d expect in Dubai. My 111SKIN facial left me with an instant, noticeable glow, and I was so impressed with the overall experience that I’ve vowed to make it a regular haunt.

One floor above the Spa is just-opened Japanese restaurant and lounge Attiko, with what must be some of the best sundowner views in town right now. While the hotel doesn’t currently have its own beach club, it’s practically on top of Dubai’s most infamous—and polarizing—beach club, Barasti. Love it (like I do) or hate it, unlike many of the city’s other beach clubs that charge hefty fees for entry, Barasti is free and drinks are reasonably priced, meaning that things can get a bit rambunctious. If all you want is some casual, fun beers by the sea, pumping music and a bit of dancing, you really can’t go wrong. But for something more upscale, just wait a smidge: the W has plans to open its own beach club, Malakite, in 2023, an 8,000-square-meter space with a 50-meter pool, private beach, and entertainment throughout the day.

Right now, the main focal point of W Dubai Mina Seyahi is the Wet Deck, where an infinity pool looks out over Dubai Harbor, a circular bar shakes up cocktails, and all-day restaurant Ginger Moon’s wide-ranging menu spans salads, sliders and stir-fries. And it was here, lounging on a daybed, sipping a fresh apple juice after a poolside sound-healing session, that I began to feel that the W might have grown up a bit. 

In the past, I’ve shied away from the brand, finding the Whatever/Whenever-isms and giant Instagrammable Ws a bit too much. But at Mina Seyahi, the vibe feels a bit different. My fellow guests were of an age that probably enjoyed the W’s original—and admittedly game-changing—arrival on the hospitality scene more than two decades ago, and were contentedly enjoying its latest evolution here in Dubai. The music at the pool was the right volume to be energizing without drowning out conversation, a morning Bloody Mary felt cheeky rather than an invitation to get wasted, the service was confident, friendly and fun, and the child-free ambience felt like a much-deserved treat.

In spite of the hot competition across the city, the new W Dubai Mina Seyahi is carving out a niche for itself, without tryingly desperately hard to be achingly cool. And if its early weeks are anything to go on, it’s making a good job of it.

www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/dxbmw-w-dubai-mina-seyahi/overview/; doubles from AED1,699 

All images courtesy of W Dubai Mina Seyahi.

The new platform, IHG One Rewards app lets you keep points, rewards, and adventure with you — wherever you go!

As part of their recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, IHG Hotels & Resorts has revamped its long-running loyalty program, IHG Rewards Club, in favor of a model based on customer responses. The new platform, IHG One Rewards, lets loyalty members control how and where they spend points and allows them to customize the benefits they receive.

IHG One Rewards is tech-forward, powered by the company’s brand-new mobile app.

Describing the transition to the new system, Claire Bennett, Global Chief Customer Officer, IHG Hotels & Resorts, said: “This is one of the largest and most comprehensive investments that IHG Hotels & Resorts has made in recent years. It’s also the biggest development we’ve made in the loyalty space since introducing the industry’s first loyalty program. We’re truly transforming guest experiences by giving our members more of what they want — more value and exciting benefits individually delivered via new technology.”

The IHG app is the key that unlocks the power of IHG One Rewards, creating a new, more customer-friendly, and personal UX. The app enables users to check in and interact with their destination hotel before, during, and after their stay, increasing flexibility and allowing them to keep updated on any changes. Members can access the new platform simply by updating the existing version via Apple’s App Store or the Google Play store.

Jolie Fleming, Senior Vice President, Guest Products and Platforms, IHG Hotels & Resorts, said: We have designed an entirely new experience for the next generation of our award-winning app, simplifying the user experience and allowing for continuous innovation moving forward.” 

This means that IHG One Rewards delivers more personalized, targeted offers to guests, rolls out new functionality faster, enhances the booking experience, and allows guests to manage their experience at every step of their journey. These impactful changes create better experiences for members.

Customization is Key

So, how does the new setup work for IHG One Rewards participants? Put simply, IHG One Rewards is designed to reward customers with more loyalty points accumulated at a much faster rate coupled with the expanded opportunities to spend them. 

Member benefits include enhanced choices, including free breakfasts for Elite members and access to Reward Night Discount Promotions for Platinum Elite and Diamond Elite members. And the extended scope for Elite members means they can enjoy early check-in and late checkout (if available), as well as room upgrades. 

After conducting comprehensive research and consulting thousands of customers, IHG understood that loyalty customers all have different wants and needs. These are reflected in the introduction of Milestone Rewards, which allow members to pick reward options that best fulfill their requirements. 

Milestone Rewards kick in after just 20 nights spent in IHG hotels, with participants in the program receiving a range of gratuities to pick from every tenth night, including $20 F&B Rewards, Annual Lounge Membership, and Confirmable Suite Upgrades.

All member benefits – including the launch of Milestone Rewards – are available now.

To learn more, please visit ihg.com/one.

Article sponsored by IHG Hotels & Resorts.
All Images Credit: IHG Hotels & Resorts.